Antonio Banderas set to become latest Hollywood A-lister to buy football club with Malaga takeover
HOLLYWOOD legend Antonio Banderas is poised to follow Ryan Reyonlds and Rob McElhenney by buying a stake in a football club.
Movie stars Reynolds and McElhenney have just become joint-owners of National League side Wrexham.
Now award-winning actor and director Banderas hopes to create a similar feel-good story for ailing hometown club, Malaga.
The 60-year-old has starred in a host of films including The Mask of Zorro and Evita - as well lending his voice to Puss in Boots, in the Shrek franchise.
Banderas will now hope to bring the same fighting spirit to struggling Malaga - currently in the Segunda Division having been relegated following a disastrous 2017-18 season.
The actor was a promising footballer as a youngster, but quit after breaking his foot aged 14 - and is a lifelong Malaga fan.
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The south coast club has slumped to mid-table in Spain's second tier after losing its LaLiga status over two years ago.
Banderas has returned to his birthplace to run its Soho Theatre.
He said: "My involvement in Malaga will depend on who the new investors are, and what they want - nothing more and nothing less.
"What Malaga needs is someone to grab the bull by the horns, and take the club forward.
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"Given their current circumstances they are doing very well.
"The lads wearing the shirt are doing a great job.
"But they have take the club as far as they can.
"What more can you do at a club with such huge problems?"